The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-10-13
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught By q Study or the Inter
national sunday school Lesson Appointed rOl
Oct. %. NJ. Matt, 9:1S-3L.

Oct. %. NJ. Matt, 9:1S-3i-
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures
Indicated above.l
SUBJECT: THE RESURRECTION OF THE
DAUGHTER OF JAIRUs.
Our study is Christ's 10th specific miracle
1t was the second case of resurrection, the son
Of the widow Of Main having been the first in
stance of q resurrection from the dead. This
was the eighth miracle performed at Csper-
naum. 1t took place in the month Of NOvem-
Der, A. ID. %, 1,S5S years ago, in the Sd year
of Chrst's life and the second Of his ministry.
lt was probably quite late in the day. He had
been invited 10 the house Of st. Matthew for
the main meal of the day, which meal was
generally in an advanced part of the after
noon. Then it seems the meal was about fin
ished when Christ left to 20 to the house of
Jairus. Besides, we notice that he stopped on
the way and performed an intervening miracle,
TO wit, the cure of the woman sick Of hemOr-
rhage. We cannot determine the distance be-
tween st. Peters house and that of the ruler.
1t is evident the residences were quite sepa-
rate, and hence in different parts of the city Of
Capernaum.
The father of the girl was Jarus. He was
one of the rulers of the synagog. We see
each synagog had several rulers. Compare
Acts, 13: 49, The business of ruler of a syn
agog was to manage its government and SUPER
went to Christ expressed great reverence for
him, prayed him to como and rescue his
daughter-curing her if she were still alive,
and raising her to life if she were dead be-
lieved Christ could save her by putting his
| (Christ's) hands OH her. Did he think Christ
must touch her in order to cure her or to resur-
rect her? Had he not heard how Christ,
though at Capernaum, cured the son of the
nobleman Notwithstanding i2 miles interviewed
between Doctor and patient? He had aids to
develop his faith. Christ had already per-
formed seven miracles in Capernaum-the
great draught of fishes, the demoniac, st.
Peters mOther-in-law, the paralytic the with
cred hand, the Centurions servant and q sec
ond demoniac. Then doubtless he had heard
how Christ had brought back to life the son of
the widow of Main, Main not being far off
from Capernaum.
The girl who was sick and who died was lit
tie an only daughter, II years old. Both of
her parents were alive.
The author of the miracle was Christ. He is
styled Jesus and Master. He was dining at the
residence of st. Matthew. While so engaged,
a ruler Jairus went and solicited him to go
and cure his daughter. He had some faith,
but Christ tries to keep it up to full pitch,
and hence exhorted him, " Be not afraid,
only believe (St. Mark, 5:36; compare
st. Luke, g.: 50l He means keep up your
| belief Do not permit it to lessen for moment.
going to the house. 1t was not needful for him
TO 90. lie could cure or raise the dead to life
from distance. Perhaps he went so as to do
COOL on the way as indeed he did in the case
of the feeble and diseased woman. Reaching
the house he requested all who were in the
| room where lay the dead body, except SITS.
Peter, James and John and the parents Of the
| child, to retire. This was modest, and avoided
the appearance of mere show. Five witnesses
were enough. 1t was good policy to take the
| mother. be went to the bedside, took the
| child by the hand and babe her get up, at the
same time gently raising her. Then be pre-
seribed silence as to the doer Of the miracle
| There was no use in telling. The story would
| hy. Reporting it would seem ostentatious
| Honor increases most in the cIses Of those who
seek it least. Then, TO those not actually pres
| ent, it would be considered false report, and
so be misconstrued, proving more harmful than
| beneficial TO Christ And JeSus's time had not
| yet come. He therefore avoided too great con-
! spicuousness- 1t was not so much the fact of
| the miracle which he wanted hushed as the
name of its author. he ordered food to be
| brought to her. He would not furnish this
| from the fact provisions were in the power of
| the human. God does only his part. Real life
was impaired, needing sustenance. The girl
| had totally recovered not from death only, but
| also from sickness, and hence she was hungry
had good appetite.
Now this was a real miracle. 1. The girl was
| actually dead Professional funeral mourners
were present. They laughed at Christ when he
used the fguratiye expression sleep" for
| death. The account states plainly they knew
| she was dead (St. Lu.. 5 3d. People then
| understood what death is. The child was at
| the point of death whan her father left nome.
| She WAS in fact so near decea5e that the ruler
declared she had actually departed from life.
| (St. Matt, 9 49, Much time passed. Jairus
| ha1 tn 70 bah of
was, of course. some pause there Then there
| was delay on the way from st. Peters house to
| the residence of the ruler, caused by Christ's
stopping on the way to heal the broken-down
! sick woman. No wonder the father found his
daughter actually dead by the time he got back
| home. st. Luke physician, and yet he
gave a full account of this miracle. Though
| not probably an eyewitness, he yet credits the
statements. by the way, the student should
carefully read over st. Mark, 5 % "a, 80 AZ,
and st. Luke, 81 Al. AZ, 1866 The child was
| raised TO life. Food was ordered for her. Com
pare st. John, n 1-13) Five witnesses are
enough TO establish the fact. Better, indeed,
the five than the wailing, noisy crowd. The
| act was deliberate and could stand proof All
had seen the girl dead and had ridiculed the
idea she could be in q trance or sleep. These
| same persons soon saw her again alive and in
health. Not one questioned the fact Of death,
| nor the fact OF resurrection. 3. Here was proof
| that Christ was more than human. 1t is not
according TO the usual course Of nature for q
dead person soon to live again. The imposi-
ton of hands has not ordinarily, or from a hu-
man standpoint, power TO raise the dead. The
claims of Christ to be the Messiah were clearly
| established.
Art and poetry have attempted to tell the
world the story of Jairuss daughter. Frank
Moss Resurrection of Jairus's Daughter, y
which was once exhibited at Paris, is now in
the Cathedral at Philadelphia.
DIR. Stainer's " Daughter of Jarius" is a IA
nous musical composition.
One should read n. Z. Willis's "The Healing
Of the Daughter Of Jairus." 1t is very sweet
tender, comforting.
Mrs. Dana's lines are beautiful:
| "They came to the house
4 And the mourners were there,
| Who with weeping and wailing
| Were rending the air;
| But Jesus reproved them:
4 Why thus do weepf
| For the maid IL not dead,
She Is only asleep
20 see with touch
| How the maiden awakes
| When the mighty Physician
| Her hand gently takesl
And, see! from her features
Pale death quickly flies
AZ the voice Of the Savior,
| % damsel, arise! ,"
Suggestions:
j. We must do our part. Christ raised the
dead, but servants brought the food.
.. BE careful OF others feelings. How quick
Christ was 10 see the tremor of Jairus at the
news of the death of his daughter, and how
quick TO strengthen at once (St. Mark, ; {: 30. J
B. DO not be stopped in any Office of kind